Adinda Jasmine, Jakarta – The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has strongly condemned the Israeli military strike on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza.

The attack on Thursday, July 17, 2025, targeted the area's only Catholic church, killing three people and injuring ten others, including Pastor Gabriel Romanelli.

Indonesia condemns the attack on the Holy Family Church in Gaza, the only Catholic Church in the area, which has caused the loss of innocent civilian lives, the ministry stated in an official post on X, Friday, July 18.

Violation of international law

The ministry said the attack showed a blatant disregard for international humanitarian law and human values. It stressed that religious sites, medical facilities, and other civilian infrastructure must not be targeted and should be protected under international law.

Indonesia also called on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to take concrete steps to pressure Israel to end the violence and return to ceasefire talks based on the two-state solution.

Netanyahu issues apology

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized for the incident, stating the tank strike was not aimed directly at the church and that the damage was caused by bullet fragments.

"Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza's Holy Family Church. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy", he said, as quoted by Politico.

However, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem reported that an Israeli tank shell struck the church compound directly at 10:30 a.m. local time. The Israeli military's initial investigation said the fragments of a tank shell unintentionally hit the area.

The Holy Family Church represents the Catholic minority in Gaza. Of the nearly two million residents in the enclave, most of whom are Muslim, about 1,000 are Christians, roughly 135 of whom are Catholic.

The attack took place amid intensifying violence across Gaza. On the same day, at least 22 others were killed in various locations following Israeli airstrikes. Since the war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2024, the Gaza Health Ministry has reported nearly 60,000 deaths.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2030190/indonesia-condemns-israeli-strike-on-gazas-only-catholic-churc